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F. A. RAPPLEYB. CRATE. No. 425,253. Patented Apr. 8, 3.890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

FRANK A. RAPPLEYE, OF FRMER VILLAGE, NEV YORK.

. CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,253, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed December 23, 1889i Serial No. 334,720. (No model.)

a citizen of the United States, residing at` Farmer Village, in the county of Seneca, State of New York, have invented certain new` and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.`

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in crates; and it has for its object to provide a light but strong crate providing for nesting the crates in such a `manner as to prevent movement thereof, so as to provide for the shipment of fruit in as perfect a condition as possible. I provide strengthening-strips upon the bottom of the crate, which serve the addi-tional function of steadying-pieces to prevent movement of the crates upon each other when nested.

The invention consists in the peculiarities of construction, whereby the desired ends are accomplished.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form apart of this specication, and in which Figure l is a perspective view of my crate inverted. Fig. 2 is a top plan of three crates embodying my invention and nested. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of four crates nested, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. at.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to details of the drawingsbyof the strips secured thereto andforining the i li sides,'ends, and bottoni of the crate may be of any suitable material suited for the purpose and of the desired proportions to form a crate of the required size. The triangular shape of the corner-posts gives to the interior of the crate an octagonal shape. This is its preferred this particular shape, as it is evident that the essence of the invention would not be de parted from if the shape of the interior of the crate were varied.

Across the bottom of the crate, upon the outside thereof, l secure the cross-slats C, as shown clearly in Fig. l, there being one at each end and two near the center. The ends of these cross-slats are out upon an angle, which angle conforms to that formed by the inner face of the corner-posts, so. as to fit the same When the crates are nested. The end nearest the center of the crate, with their beveled ends opposite the corners of the crate and directly over and corresponding to the inner faces of the corner-posts. The two center strips or cross-slats C are arranged with their shorter sides adjacent to each other` with a space between the two, as indicated clearly in Fig. l.

Innesting the crates when they are piled in a single tier the crossslats of the bottom of one crate iit Within the next lower crate, the end crossslats fitting quite snugly within the lowercrate, the angles of the end cross-slats conforming to those of the corner-posts, and the shorter edges or sides having a bearing against the inner face of the top end straps of the crate to serve to prevent movement of one crate within the other. The crossslats on the bottom 0f the undermost crate serve to raise the bottom of the crate slightlyT from the ground or the bottom of a car and provide for a circulation of air beneath the saine and also to prevent injury to the fruit contained within the crate. These cross-slats also serve materially to strengthen the crate, and it will thus be seen that they serve a triple function.

In an ordinary nesting of the crates-that is, in single tiers-the central cross-slats of the crates form no function in steadying and preventing movement of the crates; but they form a sort of support for the uppermost strips of the lower crates and prevent bendforni; but I do not wish to be restricted to' strips have their longer edge of side arranged IOO ing inward thereof, the cross-slats extending below the upper edge of the uppermost side slats or strips of the lower crates, the lower strips of one crate resting directly upon t-he top strips of the next under crate.

In the nestingof the crates otherwise than in single tiers the central cross bars or slats form an important function, as will be seen on reference to Figs. 2 and 4. In Fig. 2 are shown two crates at the bottom arranged side by side, with a third crate arranged at right angles thereof. In this instance the two end slats of the two crates and the next adjacent center slats tit the inner contour of the crate marked A4 in said ligure, as will be readily seen, the cross-slats at the right-hand side of said ignre clearly showing the contour of the crate. In nesting in other forms the center cross-slats also come into play and serve their-function in preventing movement of the crates upon each other, aswill be seen, for instance, in Fig. 4.

My construction permits of ready nesting of the crates or of separation thereof. I am enabled to provide avery light yet durable crate at a minimum cost. l

The straps A2 may be placed a greater or less distance apart, as occasionmay require; The slats C are so arranged that the space outlined by the two 'outer slats conforms to the interior length of the crate, while that between the two adjacent end slats is the saine asthe width of the crate, as will be readily seen.

What I claim as new is l. A crate having upon its bottom slats Whose ends are exteriorly angular, the interior of the crate being angular to conform to the angles of the said slats, said slats having their angles corresponding to the position of the corner posts of the crate, substantially as specified.

2. A crate having angular posts and upon its bottom cross-slats having angular ends conforming to the angles of the corner-posts, Said slats being arranged inversely in pairs, as shown.

3. The combination, with a crate having angular interior corner-posts, of a second crate having upon the outer face of its bottom transverse slats whose ends are angular to conform to the angles of and correspond to the position of the corner-posts, substantially as specified.

4. A crate having angular corner-posts and transverse slats upon the outer face of the bottom formed with angular ends, one of said .slats being arranged at each end of the bottom, the slats corresponding in position to the corner-posts and with their longer sides adjacent to each other, substantially as specified. 5. A crate having angular corner-posts and transverse slats upon the outer face of the bottom of the crate and formed with angular ends, one of said slats being arranged at each end of the bottom, said slats having their longer sides adjacent to each other and two near the center, with their shorter sides varranged adjacent to each other, thus forming angular recesses to receive the corner-posts of contiguous crates, substantially as specified. i In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK A. RAPPLEYE. Vitnesses:

D. C. "WHEELER, D. S. WHEELER. 

